Facts, Values And Ethical Reasoning

Question 1

What is ethics?

Answer 1

How one OUGHT to act; this requires justification/reason/argument

Question 2

What are facts?

Answer 2

Claims about the world that have been or can in principle, be verified by empirical methods

Question 3

What are values?

Answer 3

Claims about, or expressions of, things like preferences, attitudes, emotions + aesthetic appreciation

Question 4

What are thick concepts?

Answer 4

Claims that have both factual + evaluative content

E.G. the Dr was intimidating, the president is straight-talking + those plants are weeds

Question 5

How can we assess claims?

Answer 5

Empirical methods can determine the truth of factual statements

Question 6

How can we assess value claims?

Answer 6

Moral theory

Question 7

What are 3 most popular moral theories within healthcare?

Answer 7

1. Consequentialism/utilitarianism
2. Deontology
3. Virtue ethics

Question 8

Define consequentialism.

Answer 8

Theories assess the moral value of anything in terms of that thing’s outcomes or impact upon the world so it is only based on consequences/likely outcome

Question 9

Define utilitarianism.

Answer 9

A type of consequentialism that aims for the best balance between benefit + harm which makes for the most effective use of resources

Question 10

What do consequentialist theories need to provide and defend?

Answer 10

1. An account of the relevant good (s)
2. An account + method of quantification (e.g. who counts? Can we aggregate? If so, how? etc.)
3. An explanation of how rightness if to be determined

Question 11

What is deontology?

Answer 11

“Deon” - duty

Rules govern actions + we have a duty to abide by them regardless of cost which contrasts with emphasis on outcomes (consequentialism)

“The right is prior to the good”

Question 12

What does deontology seek to respect?

Answer 12

Autonomy because its the only way of respecting an individual’s right to determine their own life

Question 13

What is virtue ethics?

Answer 13

Focuses on character of the person, not their actions + states that a right act in the action a virtuous person would do in the same circumstances

Question 14

What are the key concepts of virtue ethics?

Answer 14

A move away from universal principles

Virtue “lies in a mean”

Eudaimonia (‘human flourishing’)

Phronesis (a type of wisdom or intelligence)

Question 15

Define phronesis.

Answer 15

A type of wisdom relevant to practical things, requiring an ability to discern how or why to act virtuously and encourage practical virtue, excellence of character, in others

Question 16

What moral theory should be used?

Answer 16

All 3 should be used in combination when making decisions because each one individually is too demanding/permissive

Question 17

What pneumonic should you use when considering ethical reasoning in clinical practice?

Answer 17

P: principles
P: particulars (context/facts of case)
P: perspectives (of all those involved/affect by the case)

Question 18

What principle should be considered in ethical reasoning?

Answer 18

Respect for autonomy (informed consent)

Beneficence (acting in patients best interests)

Consequentialism (weighing benefit + risk of people involved)

Question 19

What particulars should be considered in ethical reasoning?

Answer 19

Harms associated with procedure

Experience/skills/knowledge of person carrying it out

Are there other options for any of the people involved in the situation?

Question 20

Whos perspectives must be considered in ethical reasoning?

Answer 20

1. Patient: expectation of care + trust in doctors
2. Family: want best care for relative, may suspect discrimination, may trust doctor + support student training
3. Students: want to improve skill, wants to gain approval from seniors/peers but may feel uncomfortable
4. Registrar: want to teach students + benefit future patients
5. Other patients: may support teaching or concerned that they’d be better off not being experimented on